Alley Food: Best Salad in Silicon Alley

At Chop't (17th St. bet. 5th Ave and Broadway), a satisfying
salad shop where lettuce lovers can choose from five types of
fresh greens, the line at lunch is almost as long as the dizzying
list of chopped options. Here, even the 28 homemade dressings
come in three different varieties: classic, exotic, and "spa,"
and the extensive array of mix-ins is enough to entice even the
finickiest salad eaters.

But it isn't until after your salad is assembled that Chop't
reveals its real secret weapon: a chopping station manned by an
expert with a double-bladed mezzaluna who minces your salad with
the zeal of a ninja warrior. The result is a bountiful bowl of
bite-size, well-mixed veggies that is almost always worth the
long wait, if not the prohibitive price tag.

Despite its four-star rating on Yelp
and generally
positive reviews on Menupages, some regulars note that Chop't
also cuts corners. Its bland homemade chargrilled flat bread, a
far cry from the fresh-baked, flat bread goodness that comes with
salads at Cosi, is only desirable for sopping up excess salad
dressing.

With make-your-own salad bars ubiquitous in New York City these
days, Chop't should also think hard about shredding its prices: A
typical bowl with grilled chicken, mozzarella and four
vegetables, while a treat, will set you back a whopping $10-15.